"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." -Jesus

River City Ministry – Lives Touched in 2010

I thoroughly enjoy receiving regular updates from my friend and brother Anthony Wood. Here’s his update from the 16th:

12/16/10 The big room here at RCM is full, Lord. It’s cold outside, people are edgy, and I’m not sure there’s enough space for another person. We squeeze them in as best we can. Safe and warm, but not always peaceful like we want. Sometimes people leave because they can’t get in. Sometimes the presence of the evil one sneaks in and those seeking You have to go elsewhere.

I’m glad Toshua stayed, today. Toshua, Lord, You know her.

Twenty-three years old. Raped at 11 years old, watched her mother murdered before her very eyes at fourteen because Mom didn’t pay the drug man. She didn’t pay, one too many times. But not before her mother tried to pay off the drug man with sexual favors from Toshua starting at age thirteen.

“One night, after they raped me, repeatedly, they killed my mother in front of my face.” I asked about her father. “Prison.” “I’m depressed, I haven’t been taking my meds, not for that, and not for my diabetes either. I can’t keep living like this. It’s hard for me to trust people, bro. Anthony, ‘cause of what they did to me. I want help.” She cried.

So now, after coming to RCM, Lord, finding You in the big room, Toshua’s got a doctor’s appointment, a meeting set to help with her mental state, a place to stay, and job leads. But the best part Lord? Toshua gave her life to You. Today.

I found her this morning in the big room. She was waiting for me. After her immersion, she smiled, “A huge burden has been lifted, and with Jesus walking with me, I know He’ll lift all my burdens. I feel clean.” Toshua loves You. She’s now Your child. Lord, as You promised, give her all of the blessings that come with the abundant life in Jesus. Put Your arms around her. Warm her soul with the light of Your love. Let Toshua know You can be trusted, that Your promises are true, and You are good for them.

Thank for one more soul ending the old life for one brand new. Thanks, Lord, for allowing one just more into the Big Room. I thank You, Lord, for Your Big Room in heaven that ever expands, like the universe, to allow in one more. And, once inside, each finds that there’s plenty of space for another.

I am thankful that Your Spirit in the RCM big room is more powerful than the evil one, so that our people can find You.

12/23/10 Thanks, Lord, for another great year being a part our Your plan. Thanks for the …

241 people who studied the Bible with me,

1410 persons who I was blessed to pray with,

958 who wanted to have a conversation about You,

167 who gave their lives back to You in restoration, and

86 who made Jesus their Lord re-enacting the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus in immersion, and the

383 who learned more about their walk with You in Disciple’s Class.

Thanks, Lord for the marvelous way You make Yourself available to us, so that we may help make You available to the poor and homeless. We at RCM, look forward to a new year being Your presence among those whom Jesus dearly loved.

We start back the Wednesday after MLK. Not sure why that late, but we still get out the first week of May. We’ll miss you. Maybe I’ll make it out to the left side of the country when classes are done. I’ll be finished with coursework early summer. Then the research. Gotta stay on top of it, but not tied down by a class schedule or location then.